A former All Nippon Airways (ANA) captain has been sentenced to prison in Japan for sexually assaulting a flight attendant, in a case that has drawn renewed attention to conduct and accountability among senior airline crew.
The Tokyo District Court sentenced Ryota Mise, 44, to one year and eight months in prison, ruling on Tuesday 14 July 2026. Presiding judge Takao Okawa described the act as a "despicable" assault in which the defendant abused his position as a captain, and dismissed Mise's claim of innocence.
According to the court, the assault took place in October 2023 in the city of Takamatsu, Kagawa prefecture. The victim, a cabin crew member, testified that Mise grabbed her repeatedly, both on a street and inside a convenience store. She had met him for the first time on the previous day's flight, before a group meal with colleagues.
The court found that Mise had acted in a persistent manner and took advantage of the authority that comes with the rank of captain. The custodial sentence reflects the seriousness with which Japanese courts have increasingly treated such offences, particularly where an imbalance of power is involved.
For All Nippon Airways, one of Asia's largest and most highly regarded carriers, the case is an unwelcome reminder of the reputational stakes attached to crew conduct off duty as well as in the air. Airlines around the world have tightened codes of conduct in recent years and expanded support channels for cabin crew who experience harassment, whether from passengers or colleagues.
The verdict also highlights the particular dynamics that can exist within airline hierarchies, where captains hold significant authority over the cabin and flight-deck teams they work alongside. Advocacy groups for aviation workers have long argued that clear reporting mechanisms and consistent enforcement are essential to ensuring that seniority is never used as cover for misconduct.
ANA has not been accused of any wrongdoing in connection with the incident, which took place away from the workplace. The airline continues to operate one of the industry's most extensive long-haul and domestic networks, much of it flown by its flagship Boeing 787 Dreamliner fleet.
The sentencing brings to a close a case that had moved through the Japanese legal system since the 2023 incident, and it stands as a notable example of a court holding a senior aviation professional to account for behaviour off the clock.
Sources: The Japan Times, Nippon.com. Featured image: AI-generated by AviationShop. By Daniel Okafor.
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